Samsung has pulled out Android 4.3 Jelly Bean update for its flagship device, Samsung Galaxy S4 recently. Samsung has concentrated on device’s security through Samsung Knox and stability and performance through the Android 4.3 update on Samsung Galaxy S4, the device was running on Android 4.2.2 out of the box.

Well, let’s get back to the topic. In the following post we will learn how we can gain root access on the Galaxy S4 GT-I9500 & GT-I9505 and also how we can install the Clockwork Mod Recovery on these devices. You need to follow the simple steps explained below, but before we begin here are some precautionary measures you must take before beginning.

Make sure that your phone’s battery is charged over at least 60%. This is highly recommended in order to prevent any power issues on the device during the flashing process.

Make sure that you have backed up all your important Contacts, Call Logs& Messages. It is highly recommended in case of any mishap or data loss to backup all your important data.

Make sure that you use the original data cable to connect your device to your PC.

Make sure that your device is GT-I9500 or I9505, check the model under Settings>General>About Device>Model.

Install the listed files carefully, follow this guide to letter in order to prevent any mishap.

While rooting your phone, please keep it in mind that the Root Process isn’t official and has nothing to deal with Google Inc and the device manufacturer, which is Samsung in our case. Follow the guide carefully to prevent any damages to the device as the method is completely custom.

The method explained above is basically for beginners and does not install a custom recovery in your phone, it simply installs a stock recovery with having your phone rooted. Custom recovery allows you to modify in your phone in so many other ways like flashing custom roms, flashing mods etc.

In order to flash a custom recovery after rooting your SGS4 download the following file.

Now you need to follow the same procedure explained above to root your phone but this time instead of giving it CF Auto Root file in the PDA tab you need to give it the downloaded CWM Advanced Edition [Philz Touch] file for your phone, the recovery will be flashed within a few seconds. You can enter the custom recovery now pressing and holding Volume Up + Home + Power Key.

Now wondering what to do with your rooted phone?

Here’s the answer for you!

Rooting your phone gives you complete access over all the data which is apparently locked by the manufacturers. This includes removal of the factory restrictions and making changes to the internal system and the operating system. Gaining the root access gives you the privileges to install various applications to enhance the performance of your device, allows you to remove the built-in applications/programs, helps you to upgrade the battery life of your device & install the apps which require the root access for the proper functionality and modify your device in so many other ways e.g using mods and custom roms. Here’s our collection of 10 Best Root Apps.

How to keep Root after OTA Updates

The OTA updates rolled out by the manufacturers wipe the root access on your phone. In case you don’t know how you can restore the root access after OTA update, you’ll have to root your phone once again, but there is no need to do it as you can restore it using the OTA Rootkeeper App which is available in the Google Play Store. The app creates backup of your root and simply restores it after any OTA update.

@gusgusmen:disqus yes if your bootloader has knox flag counter, it will trip it. Do it only if you don’t care about the warranty.

Usama Mujtaba

@adityashekhada:disqus you might be using Odin 1.85. Its alright. Its blue if you’re using Odin 3.07 🙂 so no worries at all.

Leonardo Diaz

It worked great for the first time…BUT….after I installed CWM I checked and I had a rooted phone, after restarting I don’t have root privileges anymore. 🙁

Usama Mujtaba

@disqus_0UcvMvhjeQ:disqus flash CF auto root once again and check if root stays or not.

Leonardo Diaz

Yes it stays but the CMW has gone oO. I think the CF recovered somehow the original Android system recovery. jajaja,

Usama Mujtaba

@disqus_0UcvMvhjeQ:disqus the other things you can do is. Flash CWM recovery and the flash SuperSu.zip using CWM recovery. Don’t use CF Auto Root method if CWM recovery wipes root. Although it’s not possible that flashing only CWM will wipe the root, if the app vanishes you may try installing it from the Google Play Store.

Leonardo Diaz

[SOLVED] I got something new, after installing again the CWM Advanced Edition [Philz Touch], I restarted to recovery and when I tried to reboot I got a message “ROM may flash stock recovery on boot THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE”, with options NO, YES -Disable recovery flash, NO, ++++++ Go back++++. I read on other place “Stock ROM has a script that reinstalls stock recovery on each boot. This deletes or renames it so it doesn’t reflash the stock recovery. And then you keep CWM”… I selected YES, tried with NO too, and did not work on both… but when I selected “Go back”, the phone reboot and that way I have both the CMW and root OK, tested by rebooting many times into recovery, althought everytime it asks the same, well it’s not that bad. Thanks and hope this helps anyone with my same problem. For reference I have the latest update until Jan-10-2014, band base I9500UBUEMK1, kernel
3.4.5-2057364
se.infra@R0304-03 #1
jss15j.I9500UBUEMK1

Usama Mujtaba

Thanks for letting us know. It will definitely help others as well.

Sent from Samsung Mobile

——– Original message ——–

mools

im using version 1.87 of odin

mools

this was unchecked when i rooted my phone as well. i think it worked out okay as i just installed the CWM successfully.i just started without that box unchecked and it gave me the pass message

Usama Mujtaba

@mools:disqus give it a try without having it unchecked. Let me know if you face any issues.

mools

I successfully rooted and installed Cwm without the box ticked . Thanks for the help